SOURCES OF WORKPLACE STRESS

UNIT 4 WORKPLACE STRESS: MAJOR CAUSES *

4.3 SOURCES OF WORKPLACE STRESS

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So far you have learnt about stress, strain and distress, as well as the different approaches

to understand stress. Thus, stressors are events, contexts, or demands which cause a stress

reaction, thus leading to increased strain in the person. The effect of stressors is

cumulative, which means that more stressors a person has over a greater length of time, it

is more likely that negative outcomes of stress will be manifested. At times people are

able handle even 10 small stressors, but sometimes even one stressor becomes difficult to

be handled. Thus, stressors are cumulative and a person overtime.

Figure 4.1 Causes of Workplace Stress

i) Role Demands: An employee is expected to perform

has to fulfill. The organisation hires a person to do certain things. However, the expectations placed on the individual are very stressful.

conflict are such demands. In the former, there is lack of clarity regarding one’s work roles. Role ambig

enough information about what is expected from

hand, in role conflict there are multiple contradictory demands at the workplace.

Thus, it is unclear how one completes the

completing the task as per one persons’ specification may disappoint someone else. Studies have concluded that role demand stressors impact the

lives both at the workplace and at home.

ii) Information Overload:

information.In fact,

information includes both at the personal as well as for the professional domain.

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Thus, stressors are cumulative and a person’s resistance to stressor breaks

Figure 4.1 Causes of Workplace Stress

An employee is expected to perform variety of roles

. The organisation hires a person to do certain things. However, the expectations placed on the individual are very stressful. Role ambiguity

are such demands. In the former, there is lack of clarity regarding one’s work roles. Role ambiguity can take place when the organisation does not provide mation about what is expected from the employee. On the other hand, in role conflict there are multiple contradictory demands at the workplace.

Thus, it is unclear how one completes the task or fulfills the roles because completing the task as per one persons’ specification may disappoint someone else. Studies have concluded that role demand stressors impact the

lives both at the workplace and at home.

Information Overload: Never before this time, people have received so much of

the pandemic is considered as an infodemic period! The information includes both at the personal as well as for the professional domain.

s resistance to stressor breaks

variety of roles, which s/he . The organisation hires a person to do certain things. However, the Role ambiguity and role are such demands. In the former, there is lack of clarity regarding one’s ation does not provide the employee. On the other hand, in role conflict there are multiple contradictory demands at the workplace.

task or fulfills the roles because completing the task as per one persons’ specification may disappoint someone else. Studies have concluded that role demand stressors impact the employees’

, people have received so much of

the pandemic is considered as an infodemic period! The

information includes both at the personal as well as for the professional domain.

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Thus, information overload refers to the exposure to too much of information or data. Getting away from information is also not that easy. In a study by Gibbs (2012), 59 percent of those aged 18-29 said that they could just away for one hour from their mobile devices. Researches have concluded that too much information interferes with effective performance at work. Multitasking and fragmented attention leads to decrease in efficiency and mental alertness.

iii) Work-life Tradeoffs:

One of the most common work-life tradeoffs is work- family conflict or work-life conflict. There being 168 hours in a week, and how these hours are being spent in maintaining a balance between the work and family areas is a challenge for many of us. Work-family conflict arises when demands from workplace and non-work domain negatively affect one another. It leads to decreased work, life satisfaction and negative emotions.

iv) Interpersonal Challenges: Many times, people quit their jobs because they want

to quit their managers. If the relationship with the manager or the supervisor is not amiable, then it can be a cause of stress at the workplace. The role of a manager is to assign work, set up schedule or create a working climate. A supportive manager creates the work environment to be joyful. However, a moody manager or supervisor makes the job unbearable. The interpersonal stressors can be also of mild level like just as simply not liking the person. But the interpersonal stressors that can be of serious nature are workplace bullying and abusive supervisor.

Coworkers and customers/clients can also be a source of stress. Studies have shown conclusive results that if the organisational climate supports bullying and aggression, then it leads to strain and negative job attitudes.

v) Evaluation Apprehension: When people are concerned about being evaluated or

judged by others, it can also be a source of workplace stress. Being evaluated can be helpful in creating arousal and being motivated (Kerr & Tindale, 2004), however, high levels of evaluation apprehension have been shown to reduce employees’ willingness to share knowledge in the workplace (Bordia, Irmer,

&Abusah, 2006).

7 Check Your Progress 1

Note: i) Use the space given below for your answers.

ii) Check your answer with those given at the end of the Unit.